Taft High's Back-to-School Night coming next week

Taft Union High School officials are inviting parents and community members to join them for a free hot dog barbecue as partners in educating students at Back-to-School Night on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

The event begins with dinner in the quad from 6 to 6:25 p.m.

The band will perform during dinner.

At 6:20 p.m., Principal Bernardo Valenzuela will welcome parents, introduce school board members and give an overview of the evening’s events during a five-minute orientation.

“We want to emphasize that parents are our partners in education and give them a chance to see what their children are doing at school,” he said. The format is designed to make the school more open to parents so they feel comfortable.

Parents will have access to the library from 5 to 7 and may sign up for a MyCats account. A Verification Pass Code or VPC code was mailed home. The account allows parents to check their child’s grades.

From 6:30 to 8:10, the evening will follow the traditional format where parents follow their child’s class schedule from Period 1 through 7.

Each class visitation with teachers will last 10 minutes.

Passing periods are five minutes each. Period 1 will be from 6:30 to 6:40; Period 2 from 6:45 to 6:55; Period 3 from 7 to 7:10; Period 4 from 7:15 to 7:25; Period 5 from 7:30 to 7:40; Period 6 from 7:45 to 7:55; and Period 7 from 8 to 8:10.

Teachers will provide a course overview including expectations, goals and objectives, textbook and materials, and grading and homework policy.

Parents with specific questions about students are asked to contact the Guidance Center in the main administration building to make an appointment. Counselors will be available in the Guidance Center.